At a Glance

The love of animals transcends generations and this adventure into the animal kingdom will allow you and your grandchild to learn about Oregon’s fantastic creatures. Get up close with animals as you apply your new animal tracking skills and learn how injured birds and wildlife are rehabilitated. Pet an alligator and meet a Therapy llama. Then go behind the scenes at the Oregon Zoo for a night-time Safari... all while forging bonds in a true animal-lover’s city.

Activity Level

Active

Short but frequent daily walks; terrain varies from pavement to dirt roads.

Best of all, you'll ...

Spend a night at the beach and visit the White Wolf Sanctuary where you will get to know 9 arctic wolves.

At the Hatfield Marine Science Center meet the resident octopus, and do a hands on activity in the lab.

Learn about the instincts and defense techniques that hedgehogs, sugar gliders and iguanas use in the wild.

General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 8-12.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Steve Engel

Steve has worked in the environmental education field since 1982. He worked as a naturalist and educator for the Yosemite National Institute, on expedition cruises to Alaska, Mexico, Antarctica and Northern Europe and for the Green City Data Program in Oregon. Steve worked as an observer at the Hawk Watch International Goshute Mountains raptor migration site and has operated his own business, Animal Tracks by Steve, since 1997, providing products and services dealing with animal tracks and stories he has collected on his travels.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a plated and served meal with main and side dishes, soups, salads, plus beverage choices of coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Orientation: 6:30 p.m.. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Especially for kids: In our meeting room at the hotel, we’ll meet Rojo the llama and Napoleon the alpaca! Their “Llama Mama” will tell us how they became certified therapy animals and we’ll learn how this animal therapy team uses their special bond to make a difference in the community. Be prepared for kisses! Lots of opportunity for contact with these two furry gentlemen. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY

2

Critter Cabana, Reptile Presentation, Oregon Zoo Backstage

Portland, Oregon

B,L,D

Shilo Inn Suites Hotel

Activity note: The drive from the hotel to Oregon Zoo is about 13.5 miles. Walking at your own pace around the zoo.

Breakfast: At the hotel, choose what you like from the breakfast buffet that includes milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: Especially for kids: We’ll be joined at the hotel by a local expert who will introduce and help us get acquainted with some special creatures. We’ll meet incredible mammals such as chinchillas, bunnies, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and others as we learn about their lives, diet, and habits. Next, staff from the non-profit International Reptile Rescue organization will join us to talk about the importance of reptiles in ecological diversity, their suitability as pets, and the safe and humane way to handle and care for them. Get ready for turtles, a boa constrictor, and other reptiles.

Lunch: At the hotel, we’ll have a lunch buffet with deli choices and dessert plus soft drinks, coffee, tea, water.

Afternoon: We'll take a few hours in the early afternoon for a good swim or rest since it will be late this evening when we return from our zoo safari. Later in the afternoon, we’ll head out via motorcoach to the Oregon Zoo for some independent exploration time before dinner.

Dinner: In the African Café at the Oregon Zoo, we’ll have a pizza buffet with lemonade and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Especially for kids: We’ll go on an after hours “safari” led by members of the Oregon Zoo staff to explore areas including the elephant complex, food preparation center, medical center, and education facility. In addition to elephants, we’ll see bats, cougars, and lions! We’ll learn about their habitats, how the animals are monitored and treated, how their food is prepared, and other special information. We’ll head back to the hotel after our field trip. Since we’ll be going on an overnight field trip tomorrow, pack a bag with everything you’ll need when we get on the motorcoach in the morning.

DAY

3

Chintimini Wildlife Center, Birds of Prey Lesson, Beach

Newport, Oregon

B,L

Elizabeth Street Inn

Activity note: Walking short distances, up to 30 minutes at a time; limited seating; unpaved and uneven surfaces. Activities at Chintimini will take place based on the schedules of staff at the time of the program and may vary from the order below.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and depart for Newport, Oregon. On our way, we’ll stop at Chintimini Wildlife Center in Corvallis for a full day field trip. The wildlife center cares for injured and orphaned wildlife from baby skunks to bald eagles, more than 1,000 each year. Their goal is to return these animals to their natural habitat. The center also conducts education programs to promote connections between people and wildlife. We’ll learn from expert environmental educators about peaceful and positive ways to coexist with wildlife in our environment. Especially for kids: We’ll meet some of Chintimini’s resident birds of prey, watch a raptor in flight with its handler, explore an artifacts table, and learn about the awesome adaptations it takes to be a top predator of the sky. Just as researchers do, we’ll dissect an owl pellet to make observations about an owl’s lifestyle based on what it eats. With expert Chintimini staff, we’ll also discover some of the fantastic diversity of creatures that live in ponds and learn about the importance of wetland systems. We’ll also use scoops and specimen jars to collect samples, then use identification charts and other tools to determine what we’ve collected. We may see newts, frogs, salamanders, and a variety of invertebrates. There’s also a station where we can have an interactive experience of how to rehabilitate wildlife and other activities.

Lunch: At the Wildlife Center, we’ll have boxed lunches with a sandwich, fruit, dessert, and water.

Afternoon: We’ll meet an animal care specialist and do a mock wildlife exam on a stuffed animal. We’ll learn what’s involved in assessing the condition of a wild patient and what’s needed for rehabilitation with the goal of releasing it back into the natural environment. Departing Chintimini, we’ll ride on to Newport, Oregon, and check in to our hotel where we’ll spend the night. After checking in, you might like to walk to the beach, just a few blocks from the hotel, to dig in the sand, look for seashells, or stick toes in the water.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. You can enjoy the lovely sunset, walk down to the tide pools, or watch a bonfire on the beach. Then prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Morning: Especially for kids: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll head to the Hatfield Marine Science Center for a field trip to explore the rocky intertidal habitat, see some of the creatures that live there, and learn about environmental forces that make this ever-changing habitat a challenging place. We’ll have a chance to handle critters that may be there such as snails, sea urchins, barnacles, crabs, and sea anemones.

Lunch: At a popular restaurant in Newport, choose from a pizza buffet, soup, salad, and hot dishes plus soft drinks, coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll ride to the non-profit White Wolf Sanctuary near Tidewater. The sanctuary covers 60 acres of countryside with meadows, trees, ponds, and shelters. About 50 acres are completely fenced and isolated for the protection of Arctic wolves that run freely. The average population is 12 wolves that have been rescued, were injured, unwanted, donated, or abandoned, and can now live out their lives in a safe and comfortable environment. We’ll learn about the wolves, their habits, and instincts from the founder, then walk around the sanctuary. You may stay on the observation deck and still see the wolves.

Dinner: At a community restaurant in Corvallis, we’ll have a choice of hot plated meals, sandwiches, salads, with soft drinks, coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Morning: Especially for kids: We’ll ride to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve where a naturalist will lead an interactive, hands-on animal tracking workshop. We’ll learn how to use claw marks, toes, heel pads, and webbing to identify animals in the wild. We’ll then apply our newly acquired skills of animal tracking as we walk in the Preserve with a naturalist. Gain insights into animal and bird behavior in the wild and see how many animal prints you can identify!

Lunch: At nearby Rood Bridge Park along the Tualatin River, we’ll have boxed lunches with a sandwich, fruit, dessert, water.

Afternoon: Free Time. For our final afternoon, we’ll have playtime activities in the park with time before dinner for a swim or a rest at the hotel.

Evening: After dinner, we’ll be joined by a very special storyteller who will tell us things we never knew about our favorite animal friends. Then prepare for check-out and departure after our wrap-up session in the morning.

DAY

6

Wrap-up Session, Program Concludes

Portland, Oregon

B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: We’ll get together for the last time with our Group Leader and say good-byes. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals

13 Meals

5 Breakfasts

4 Lunches

4 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Elizabeth Street Inn in Newport Oregon is located high on a bluff overlooking miles of the Oregon coast's pristine beaches and the vast Pacific Ocean. Every room features a fireplace and a private balcony.

This program in Portland was aimed perfectly for youngsters and grandparents who love animals. Our grandson was enthralled the entire week and excitedly reported every detail to his parents when we returned home. It is an exceptional experience for anyone who enjoys learning about animals. Louise Young, Saratoga Springs, NY

We totally enjoyed our trip with our granddaughter. Kathleen was a great leader and the kids had a great time. This was our 3rd Intergenerational Road Scholar. We have never been disappointed with the programs we have participated in.

If you and your grandchildren love animals, this is a good trip for you. Except for one day at the zoo, the program requires only short walks. Expect to spend a couple of hours every day on a large comfortable bus to get to the various activities. Good activities for the 8-12 age group and they are kept very busy. Our grandchildren loved it!

This program is very well organized. It keeps the children and their grandparents actively involved nearly all the time. The swimming pools at the hotels worked very well to work off energy and to provide interaction among the participants. If you appreciate animals, this program is a good fit.

Sharing a common love for animals is a great trip for grandparents to take with their grandchild! My granddaughter was one of the oldest of the children in her session but she still had a wonderful experience! The children have enough activities to keep them busy and interested. All children fit into the group, even the shy ones! Grandparents are encouraged to participate in the activities instead of just watching. This was a first Road Scholar trip for both of us but not our last!

If you want to touch creepy-crawly things, see artic wolves up-close, pick through tidal pools and just have a terrific time, this is the program for you! We were busy from the moment we got up until we dragged the grandkids aways from the pool. We had a terrific time